Write for an Academic Discussion

A professor has posted a question about a topic and students have responded with their thoughts and ideas. Make a contribution to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write.

Your professor is teaching a class on psychology.

In your response, you should do the following.

• • Express and support your opinion.
• • Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor’s question:

In our discussion on personal development, let's consider the roles of competition and collaboration. Some argue that a competitive mindset is the key to success, as it pushes individuals to perform at their best and achieve excellence. Others believe that collaboration, or teamwork, is more effective because it allows for the sharing of ideas and strengths. Which do you think is a more important factor for achieving success? Why?

Student response 1:

I am convinced that competition is more important. When people compete, they are motivated to work harder and innovate to be the best. This drive for personal achievement often leads to breakthroughs and higher standards for everyone. As a result, society progresses more quickly.

Student response 2:

I disagree; I think collaboration is the key. When people work together, they can combine different skills and perspectives to solve complex problems that one person couldn't handle alone. For example, major scientific discoveries are almost always the result of teamwork, not individual rivalry.